MinnPost provides updates on coronavirus in Minnesota Sunday through Friday. The information is published following a press phone call with members of the Walz administration or after the release of daily COVID-19 figures by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Here are the latest updates from January 19, 2020:
448,268 confirmed cases; 5,945 deaths
Six more Minnesotans have died of COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Health said Tuesday, for a total of 5,945.
Of the people whose deaths were announced Tuesday, three were in their 90s, two in their 80s, one was in their 70s. Four of the six people who died were residents of long-term care facilities.
MDH also said Tuesday there have been 448,268 total cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota. The number of positives is up 922 from Sunday’s count and is based on 14,467 new tests. The seven-day positivity average, which lags by a week, is 5.4 percent, down from 7.5 the week prior. You can find the seven-day positive case average here.
As of Jan. 16, the most recent day of data, 200,130 people were recorded as having had at least one dose of vaccine, and 38,258 have received two doses. Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann, urging patience, said in a press conference Tuesday that Minnesota doesn’t have enough doses for everyone yet and, as more doses become available, the state is still establishing its protocol for administering vaccines. Minnesota anticipates receiving more stockpiles after President-elect Joe Biden’s administration takes over, noted Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm during the press conference.
The most recent data available show 110 Minnesotans are hospitalized in intensive care with COVID-19, and 474 are in the hospital with COVID-19 not in intensive care. You can find more information about Minnesota’s current ICU usage and capacity here.
More information on cases can be found here.
Today on MinnPost
- What we know so far about COVID-19 spread among Line 3 workers in northern Minnesota.
- Beyond COVID: Journal Watch’s top medical stories of 2020, explained.
- Asking yourself how long it’s been since this all started? Us too.
- As always, a look at the numbers on the MinnPost COVID-19 dashboard.
Around the web
- America’s Covid-19 death toll has surpassed 400,000, Vox.
- A new COVID-19 challenge: Mutations rise along with cases, Associated Press.
MDH’s coronavirus website: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html
MDH’s phone line for COVID-19 questions, Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m: 651-297-1304
Thanks for these daily posts on the COVID crisis. In today’s edition, however, there seems to be an error in one place:
“The seven-day positivity average, which lags by a week, is 5.4 percent, up from 7.5 the week prior. ”
Either the numbers are reversed or (less likely) there should not be a comma between “percent” and “up.” At any rate, 5.4 is lower, not higher, than 7.5.
Thanks for pointing out this error, Donald. I’ve fixed it.
Why are there no vaccination sites serving the Twin Cities?